| Members Present: Sen. David P. Hinkins, Chair Rep. Christine F. Watkins, Chair Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. Jen Plumb Sen. Ronald M. Winterton Rep. Tim Jimenez Rep. Dan N. Johnson | Rep. Rosemary T. Lesser Rep. Angela Romero Rep. Rex P. Shipp Rep. Mark A. Wheatley Staff Present: Rachel Brooks, Policy Analyst Patricia Owen, Associate General Counsel Samantha Merrell, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Hinkins called the meeting to order at 2:04 p.m. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2023, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Sen. J. Plumb Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins Rep. M. Wheatley Sen. R. Winterton | Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. D. Johnson Rep. R. Lesser Rep. A. Romero |
| 2.Native American Education Reports and Issues |
| 2a. Presentation, Native American Education |
| Rachel Brooks, Policy Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, provided a legislative history overview on the state education plan for American Indian and Native Alaskan students. |
| 2b. Concurrent Resolution Supporting American Indian and Alaskan Native Education State Plan, 2016 General Session |
| Elisse Newey and Max Lang, Utah State Board of Education, answered questions from the committee. |
| 2c. Eagle View Elementary Teacher Retention and Recruitment Program Update |
| Chris Jones, Principal, Eagle View Elementary, gave an update on the teacher retention program at Eagle View. He spoke on the goals, operations, and results of the program this year and on new challenges facing Eagle View Elementary going forward. |
| Chris Jones answered questions from the committee. |
| 2d. San Juan School District Quality Teacher Incentive Program |
| Dr. Derek Begay, Assistant Superintendent, San Juan School District, presented on the quality teacher incentive program intended to retain teachers at San Juan School District. |
| Dr. Derek Begay answered questions from the committee. |
| 3.Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) |
| Paul Tsosie, attorney, on behalf of the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute reservation, spoke on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and options available to the state regarding ICWA issues. |
| The committee discussed ICWA. |
| Patricia Owen, Associate General Counsel, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, offered clarity on Paul Tsosie's remarks. |
| Stephanie Benally, Navajo Nation, Native American Specialist with Utah Foster Care, gave testimony in support of state ICWA legislation. |
| Stephanie Benally answered questions from the committee. |
| Crescentia Tso, Program Manager, Navajo Indian Child Welfare Act Program, offered comment and answered a question regarding foster child placement and removal process in the Navajo Nation. |
| Crescentia Tso answered questions from the committee. |
| The committee continued to discuss the possibility of a state ICWA statute, and asked questions of Paul Tsosie and Stephanie Benally throughout. |
| MOTION:Sen. Escamilla moved the committee support Rep. Romero's bill file regarding ICWA in concept and to work with her regarding language and intent of the bill. Sen. Plumb seconded the motion, and the committee discussed briefly.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 1 | |
| Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. R. Lesser Sen. J. Plumb Rep. A. Romero Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins Rep. M. Wheatley Sen. R. Winterton | Rep. D. Johnson |
| 4.Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Task Force Update |
| 4. Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Report |
| Rep. Romero gave an update on the MMIR Task Force. |
| The committee discussed the MMIR Task Force. |
| MOTION:Rep. Romero moved to open a committee bill to extend the MMIR Task Force for another two years.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-1. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 1 | |
| Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. T. Jimenez Rep. R. Lesser Sen. J. Plumb Rep. A. Romero Rep. R. Shipp Rep. C. Watkins Rep. M. Wheatley Sen. R. Winterton | Rep. D. Johnson |
| 5.Utah Child Abduction Response Team (CART) |
| Sarah Lundquist, Coordinator, Utah Child Abduction Response Team (CART), gave a brief introduction on CART and how they hope to expand. |
| Sarah Lundquist and Rebecca Kaufmann, investigator, Utah Child Abduction Response Team, answered questions from the committee. |
| 6.Other Items/Adjourn |
| MOTION:Rep. Jimenez moved to adjourn. The motion was not subject to a vote. |